BUSINESS leaders and public sector bosses have joined forces in a bid to keep people shopping in Blackburn.

Some 30 businesses have joined the Blackburn Town Centre Marketing Initiative in a bid to make sure the town can compete with rivals, including Preston, Bolton and the Trafford Centre.

They hope to build on the success of this year's trading, which has seen both the shopping centre and market hall reach near occupancy for the first time in several years.

It is hoped the new group will result in better working between businesses and the council.

Arnold Wilcox-Wood, manager of the shopping centre, said: "We want to send the message that Blackburn means business.

"At the moment, footfall through the shopping centre is holding up very well, although we are aware of the problems being caused by the road improvements around the area.

"This initiative hopes to bring together people involved in all areas of the town centre so we can pull together as one.

"We need to make sure we can compete with the Trafford Centre and other local towns and this is best way of doing that."

At the first meeting, details of Blackburn's Victorian theme for this Christmas were presented -- along with a request for help from traders to come up with new promotions to keep trade coming in during 2002.

Coun Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, is among those on the committee.

He said: "We have already started work on several ideas to attract people into the town, such as a new town newsletter.

"That has been directed to town's businesses, shoppers and visitors. We hope to raise awareness of the aims of the regeneration work in the town centre and provide information on the progress being made."

Despite the current roadworks to create a town centre orbital route and the closure of Church Street, a council spokesman said trade was holding up well.

He said: "The council has been monitoring traffic flow and takings at short stay car parks around the town centre during the day.

"Usage of council-revenue car parks has maintained a steady increase of around 11.45per cent on last year, and reflects the increase in visitors to the town.

"There are no footfall or trade figures for the market, but a good indicator in improving trade is that, for the first time in three years, the Market Hall is nearly at full occupancy.

Business leaders had vowed to act after a survey by international business analyst Experian revealed earlier this year that Burnley was a more prosperous town centre than Blackburn.

According to the report -- which was passed off as inaccurate by councillors -- the number of shops owned by national firms had slumped 20 per cent, the number of vacant shops rose 10 per cent while there had been an overall drop of five cent of total retail floorspace.